Eating 500 calories and BMR .

lisa28115

I don't know about the 2000 vs 500 but what you're doing is definitely unhealthy. I'd aim for 1200 net at minimum...so if you workout and burn 500 calories you'd want to eat a total of 1700 calories that day. If you're finding that hard to do have a banana or two in between meals throughout the day.

this^^^^this

i agree:bigsmile:

KarmaxKitty

If your doctor has you doing 500, then check in with your and consult a nutritionist on the side to make sure you're getting what you need. Of course, this is assuming that you're planning on upping your calories at some point, which, for a healthy weight loss, you'll have to do eventually. The fact is, the body cannot function on 500 calories. You consume a net of 500 which has to attempt to fuel ALL of your body, which isn't possible. A body in constant motion needs more fuel than that. Heck, people in a coma need more fuel than that. So, if your doctor is monitoring you, that's one thing. But if you're planning on eating like this forever (please say you're not), that's not going to benefit you in the long run.

FitLink

Thank you all for your responses I understand that it is a small amount of calories but right now it's working and I feel so much better than I did 3 weeks ago. I am at a point of being so heavy that the benefits out way the risks for me. Yes ultimately I want to loose weight while being healthy but I also can't only loose 4 pounds a month as opposed to a week. I have read articles that consuming 500 less than your BMR drops more pounds than the 500 calorie diet so my question remains would i Loose more weight eating the 2000 calories a day than my net of 500?

WHY can't you lose 4 pounds a month rather than 4 pounds a week? It's not just about being healthy, it's also about sustainability! I promise you, if you lose all your weight netting 500 cal/day you will not maintain it. I also know that you don't believe me. You're sure if you could just lose the weight you'd NEVER allow yourself to gain it back, but I been there and done that at least a dozen times in my life, and if you do crazy things (and netting 500 cal/day is crazy) you gain it back. Every time. Try netting 1500, or even 1800. You'll be surprised how much weight you'll lose, and in all likelihood, you'll keep it off.

scarticia

If your doctor has you doing 500, then check in with your and consult a nutritionist on the side to make sure you're getting what you need. Of course, this is assuming that you're planning on upping your calories at some point, which, for a healthy weight loss, you'll have to do eventually. The fact is, the body cannot function on 500 calories. You consume a net of 500 which has to attempt to fuel ALL of your body, which isn't possible. A body in constant motion needs more fuel than that. Heck, people in a coma need more fuel than that. So, if your doctor is monitoring you, that's one thing. But if you're planning on eating like this forever (please say you're not), that's not going to benefit you in the long run.

I am starting to think a nutritionist is the right step and no this is not forever just until I get into the overweight category and out of the obese then I plan on adjusting for sustainability then

susannamarie

I'm not trying to go all anorexic, if I'm hungry of course I will eat more. And yes I am supervised by my doctor so I would think he knows what he is doing. I think instead of attacking and telling me how I'm going to die try helping me geeze lol I am new at this. This is why I'm asking just thought maybe some of you had experienced the same thing or had suggestions to help me not repeating the obvious that 500 calories is not enough.

This forum is not really designed to support VLCD's, so if you are under a doctor's supervision (which should, for this extremely low level of calories, include regular checkups to make sure your heart is still functioning okay), you would be better off to ask him.

FitLink

I'm not trying to go all anorexic, if I'm hungry of course I will eat more. And yes I am supervised by my doctor so I would think he knows what he is doing. I think instead of attacking and telling me how I'm going to die try helping me geeze lol I am new at this. This is why I'm asking just thought maybe some of you had experienced the same thing or had suggestions to help me not repeating the obvious that 500 calories is not enough.

Okay, I'll bite. What was your doctor's answer to this question? Is he a bariatric specialist? Does he think upping your calories will cause more weight loss? Has he referred you to a nutritionist to ensure you get all the nutrients you need in this 500 (1000 total) net calories, because you need a really nutrient dense diet to do that? What does the nutritionist say about whether upping your calories will increase weight loss? Why ask non-professionals at MFP when you have the supervision of medical professionals available to you?

scarticia

This is easy because I was told this by a trainer at the gym today and was curious lol my appointment isnt for a week and I thought options would be nice to have before hand. Yes he is a specialist and no I haven't seen the nutritionist yet but I will be why post your opinions to be negative if you want to be rude and negative don't bother to post

FitLink

Oh man, if anyone ever posts about a super low calorie diet they instantly get griped at on here.
Do you feel satisfied eating that amount? Do you feel weak or light headed? Having any trouble sleeping? How's your concentration? It's not ideal to eat that little of an amount but there are people who are able to eat that amount & be alright for a decent period of time. Your metabolism will eventually slow down though & you will probably plateau. The plateau can be really discouraging to a lot of people. Plus if you start eating more you will more than likely gain weight fairly quickly...You need to try to stick with a calorie range that you can maintain throughout your life, or you will probably end up yo-yo dieting constantly.
I upped my calorie intake & actually lost more weight. I eat about 1350 a day [5'3 & 132ish lbs] and it really helped my weight loss.
Good luck doll!

At 500 net calories it's not about "starvation mode" or being "satisfied" or "feeling weak or light headed." It's about heart arrhythmias, and organ and nerve damage.

FitLink

This is easy because I was told this by a trainer at the gym today and was curious lol my appointment isnt for a week and I thought options would be nice to have before hand. Yes he is a specialist and no I haven't seen the nutritionist yet but I will be why post your opinions to be negative if you want to be rude and negative don't bother to post

I'm sorry you consider it negative and rude to ask why you would rely on non-professional advice when professional advice is available, considering the serious consequences of a diet so low in calories. Since you only seem to consider it polite to tell you that it's a good idea for you to eat 500 net calories, I have to assume you are violating the site policy of not advocating VLCDs. Don't tell me not to reply to your question. If you don't want answers that disagree with you, don't ask the question. I wasn't derogatory or rude, I answered your question with an answer that wasn't the one you wanted.

scarticia

Actually you answered a question with a question and then were all negative and I value all opinions of those who want to help I am starting to try to loose weight and for this reason I am asking questions to help me and this is what this forum is for I am not trying to have people support a specific diet just give me there experiences and knowledge like I said previously if you don't have something nice or different to say why waste your time posting

susannamarie

People are trying to help by reinforcing the statement that 500 net calories is a bad, bad idea, since you didn't listen to the first few.
That is why you keep hearing it. People waste their time posting, not just for you, but for anyone else who begins and thinks it's a good idea and reads the thread.

Summary: Eat at least 1200 net. The weight loss will be slower, but your health will be better, your skin will be better, and you'll be more likely to stick to the diet.

PlanetVelma

Actually you answered a question with a question and then were all negative and I value all opinions of those who want to help I am starting to try to loose weight and for this reason I am asking questions to help me and this is what this forum is for I am not trying to have people support a specific diet just give me there experiences and knowledge like I said previously if you don't have something nice or different to say why waste your time posting

I don't see how their questions were "rude". I don't see anything wrong w/ answering your questions w/ more questions. They were curious, not rude (IMO).

suziecue66

I don't think its so detrimental to eat 1000 calories and you are supervised by your doctor. You have plenty of fat stores.
Many people lose weight rapidly without any issues and it keeps them motivated.
So keep doing what is working. Don't ask in a forum about calories as people get very adamant about calories.

scarticia

I have read everyone's posts but my question was never answered until after a few posts later. I never asked if a 500 cal diet was good for me obviously that is a given this is why I am searching for something different and eventually more long term that is why I wanted to learn about others exeperiences with BMR and the weightloss difference between them I am not going to make this a battleground so. I Won't comment back on anything else I consider rude and offensive. However I still appreciate those who are trying to answer my question and help

jbg5889

Isn't the reason your body stores the fat in the first place so it can use it in times of calorie deficit? I'm not sure why this would be so harmful, it is what your body is made to do.

Coco_Puff

If you starve your body this way your body will not have a firm healthy look when you're done. Losing weight this way eats away at your muscle. Eating more and losing at a slower pace will give you tighter skin! Plus feeding your muscle with increase your metabolism, which will have your body working like a fat burning machine!!! That's the way to go!!!

scarticia

That's what I thought to I mean I need to loose the "stored fat" and more lol but I want to have a plan in progress for when I reach a lower weight and want to make my weight stable idk I'm still confused

susannamarie

Isn't the reason your body stores the fat in the first place so it can use it in times of calorie deficit? I'm not sure why this would be so harmful, it is what your body is made to do.

While that's true, if the deficit is too high it starts using the muscle as well, and you'll get a much higher percentage of muscle lost. This is because it takes a lot more to maintain muscle than fat, so if a severe famine is coming your body is better off eating a lot of muscle first to reduce caloric requirements, and then using the fat.

scarticia

Will it still eat muscle even though I am working out, I was under the impression that one contradicts the other

susannamarie

It doesn't completely counteract it -- not with a 2000 calorie deficit.

jbg5889

And eating a balanced diet with enough protien and carbs should help.

FitLink

Thanks for the calculations i work out 7 days a week right now I burn around 500 just doing cardio. I just had my BMR checked at the gym today and it was 2017.

If your math is better than hers, why have you not noticed that your own numbers don't add up? If you lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks, you have a daily calorie deficit of 2500 calories. You're eating 1000. That means you burn 3500 calories per day. You say your BMR is around 2000, and your exercise at the gym burns 500. That leaves 1000 calories for you regular daily activities. That seems like a lot. I suspect you have lost a bit of water in addition to a few pounds, but I don't believe you have lost 15 pounds of fat. All I, and others on this thread, are saying is this is not a really good way to lose weight if you'd like it to be permanent.

NoAdditives

I am 29 years old, I am 5'9 and weigh 269 lbs. My BMR is 2017. I started a diet 3 weeks ago and have lost 15 pounds so far. I am eating around 1000 calories a day and burning at least 500 calories at the gym alone. So my net calorie intake is 500 per day. I would like to know will I loose more weight eating more or should I continue on. I am doing well, not starving but I am trying to find the most rapid weight loss possible. I just can't seem to grasp that if I eat 500 less according to my BMR I would be eating around 2000 calories a day and that seems like a huge amount? Any info or experiences with this would be greatly appreciated.

500 calories is what an average newborn consumes. My almost 3 month old is consuming about 600 calories a day. My toddler and preschooler need roughly 1000 calories per day. Do you really think you can properly nourish your body on 500 net calories a day? It's not rocket science, I don't understand why people find this so hard to understand. EAT!

CMmrsfloyd

Will it still eat muscle even though I am working out, I was under the impression that one contradicts the other

The key to maintaining as much muscle mass as possible is working out (using resistance and lifting weights, preferrably heavy ones) and having a *moderate* caloric deficit. You can expect to lose some muscle mass during the weightloss, that's common. The larger your calorie deficit, the more likely you are to lose a larger amount of muscle.

FitLink

Will it still eat muscle even though I am working out, I was under the impression that one contradicts the other

Yes, it will still burn muscle, as muscle is easier than fat to convert to energy. This is why you need to provide at least 1200 calories net. Because these calories will be easier to burn than muscle and you fuel your workouts. The idea that your body burns fat whenever you have a caloric deficit is mistaken. In times of extreme famine, like you artificially produce when you eat too little, you body stores more fat and burns muscle in preference to fat. This often leads to damage to the heart, which is muscle. It also leads to nerve and organ damage.

ashnm88

Thank you all for your responses I understand that it is a small amount of calories but right now it's working and I feel so much better than I did 3 weeks ago. I am at a point of being so heavy that the benefits out way the risks for me. Yes ultimately I want to loose weight while being healthy but I also can't only loose 4 pounds a month as opposed to a week. I have read articles that consuming 500 less than your BMR drops more pounds than the 500 calorie diet so my question remains would i Loose more weight eating the 2000 calories a day than my net of 500?

You need to eat more. You will eventually put yourself into worse health from a lack of nutrients. Increase your calories to what MFP recommends. Losing weight slowly is the best way to keep it off for life.

megsmom2

Please listen to what these folks are saying...they are the voice of experience and really are t
rying to help you. We all want the very best for you and don't want you to hurt yourself. That's why they're saying things you don't seem to want to hear. It does seem counterintuitve to do it this way....but it works, and in the long run is better for your health

FitLink

Will it still eat muscle even though I am working out, I was under the impression that one contradicts the other

Yes, it will still burn muscle, as muscle is easier than fat to convert to energy. This is why you need to provide at least 1200 calories net. Because these calories will be easier to burn than muscle and you fuel your workouts. The idea that your body burns fat whenever you have a caloric deficit is mistaken. In times of extreme famine, like you artificially produce when you eat too little, you body stores more fat and burns muscle in preference to fat. This often leads to damage to the heart, which is muscle. It also leads to nerve and organ damage.

BTW, you are nowhere near obese enough that the risks of obesity outweigh the risks of a 500 cal/day net.

cressievargo

You know who else eats about 500 calories/day?
Babies. The new born kind.

THIS!!

A jar of stage 2 baby food has 100 calories (roughly). My 7 mo old eats 2 -3 of those daily, plus cereal, plus formula....
so he's eating more than you....and he weighs 17 lbs.

Sorry if that's "stating the obvious" but seriously - 269 is not that big. I weigh 233 right now and there's no way in h*ll I'd eat that low of calories. I *HAVE* met with a nutritionist and my daily calories are 1500 net (which means I generally eat more than that when I exercise). I've lost 21 lbs since January 1 - which is pretty good.

You can do it any way you want - but statistically you are setting yourself up for failure. That type of diet is NOT sustainable.

blandwriter

There are a lot of math whizzes around. I'm not one of them, but, as someone with a lot to lose (when I started, about 200 pounds), I can relate to anyone who is looking for a quick solution.

Some doctors are more aggressive than others when it comes to weight, I guess. My own doctor suggested I try South Beach. And, he added, and I'm quoting, "At this point, it's just baby steps." I supposed he could have suggested I do a medically supervised fast. Or have gastric bypass surgery. I am borderline diabetic, and I have a serious kidney disorder.

But his suggestion really involved education. And I needed to listen, because I have done many diets--low calorie, low carb, Weight Watchers, and eat anything I want as long as I binge on exercise. I even had a nutritionist suggest I eat four cups of cooked vegetables a day because it would "rest" my thyroid. (Which, in retrospect, makes me laugh, and I couldn't eat a green bean for about four years.)

I'm being careful with this whole process, because I need to eat this way forever. It's not worth it to me personally to have a rapid weight loss only to gain it back...again. My own opinion is to focus on education (which is why you asked, right?) and to keep your eye on the long view, establishing good habits that you can enjoy and pass on to your family and that will help lead you to a healthier lifestyle in the long run.